Chapter 20 - The Unseen Trigger In Washington
At 5:00 PM, inside a high-rise office building in downtown Washington D.C., CEO Vance Sterling sat behind a massive mahogany desk.
He listened quietly as his lead attorney explained the sudden viral release of the geological survey files across the internet.
"The story broke twenty minutes ago on national news, Mr. Sterling," the attorney stammered nervously, setting a tablet on the desk.
"The Department of Justice has initiated an emergency ethics review into Judge Sterling's court docket."
"The eminent domain petition has been frozen indefinitely."
Vance Sterling slowly stood up from his chair, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that looked out over the nation's capital.
His face was completely devoid of emotion as he watched the evening traffic move through the streets below.
"Caleb Vance is proving to be far more resourceful than his father was," Sterling said, his voice cold and devoid of pity.
"He thinks exposing a corporate scandal in the media is going to save his eight hundred acres."
Sterling pulled a small satellite phone from his pocket, dialing a private, unlisted international code.
"Activate the secondary protocol in Texas," Sterling commanded softly into the receiver.
"If we cannot take the land through the courts, we will ensure that nothing living remains on it by midnight."
Two thousand miles away in Texas, the evening wind picked up across the Vance Ranch, blowing dust across the gravel driveway.
Standing on the porch, Caleb looked toward the dark treeline as his military instincts flared with sudden, sharp alarm.
May you like
He reached for the sidearm at his belt, sensing the cold breath of an approaching storm.
The war for his home was far from over.
